CONFESSION: I'm a guitarist and I don't know beans about upright basses

[BassersDad]

Hi there folks

My oldest son (now 14) is a two instrument kid. He's played classical guitar since he was 5 and has played bass for school orchestra since 4th grade. While his primary instrument has always been guitar, he's apparently also a pretty good bassist. In 7th grade he was asked to play with the high school orchestra and has already been invited to audition for the local youth orchestra in our community.

Next year he'll be going to high school, and he's asking about getting a bass so he can continue playing. I'm trying to figure out how much I need to spend to get him a fairly decent bass ... but without spending a bazillion dollars.

I've played guitar for about 40 years ... electric, acoustic, fingerstyle, etc. but I have no formal training.

The closest store to my area that seems to specialize in stringed instruments is Shar Music in Ann Arbor, MI. I read some threads on here that gave mixed reviews of that store and especially of the Franz Hoffman basses that offer at more of an entry level price.

Any advice or information you might have would be greatly appreciated!

[hdiddy]

Make sure you read the newbie links. Any of the "trusted" chinese makes will probably carry your son all the way through college if need be. Eastman, Strunal, Christopher, Shen, Upton. I would try to find a hybrid bass (carved top, ply back) around $2000-2400 if you can swing it. My Christopher has served me very well. Try before you buy as much as you can.

I came from the guitar world as well.... sizing up a bass was kinda similar for me. Look for the same stuff as you in a quality guitar, straight necks, straight fingerboard, easy playability, good sound/projection, consistent sound throughout the neck (fingerboard buzzes can be fixed by a luthier), good feel, no cracks, etc. etc.

Ideally you should try to rent a bass if possible until he knows what he wants.

[Eric Swanson]

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Make sure you read the newbie links. Any of the "trusted" chinese makes will probably carry your son all the way through college if need be. Eastman, Strunal, Christopher, Shen, Upton. I would try to find a hybrid bass (carved top, ply back) around $2000-2400 if you can swing it. My Christopher has served me very well. Try before you buy as much as you can.

I came from the guitar world as well.... sizing up a bass was kinda similar for me. Look for the same stuff as you in a quality guitar, straight necks, straight fingerboard, easy playability, good sound/projection, consistent sound throughout the neck (fingerboard buzzes can be fixed by a luthier), good feel, no cracks, etc. etc.

Ideally you should try to rent a bass if possible until he knows what he wants.

+1. I would only add that you will need to define what a "bazillion" dollars means to you, at some point...you'll probably need more research under your belt to even begin to figure that out, for your family.

Welcome here!

[BassersDad]

Thanks for your reply!

I know what you mean about looking for the same things you would in a guitar ... playability, construction, finish, tone.

I've been wandering around in here for a few days reading posts. I've been learning a lot!

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Make sure you read the newbie links. Any of the "trusted" chinese makes will probably carry your son all the way through college if need be. Eastman, Strunal, Christopher, Shen, Upton. I would try to find a hybrid bass (carved top, ply back) around $2000-2400 if you can swing it. My Christopher has served me very well. Try before you buy as much as you can.

I came from the guitar world as well.... sizing up a bass was kinda similar for me. Look for the same stuff as you in a quality guitar, straight necks, straight fingerboard, easy playability, good sound/projection, consistent sound throughout the neck (fingerboard buzzes can be fixed by a luthier), good feel, no cracks, etc. etc.

Ideally you should try to rent a bass if possible until he knows what he wants.

[BassersDad]

Originally Posted by Eric Swanson

+1. I would only add that you will need to define what a "bazillion" dollars means to you, at some point...you'll probably need more research under your belt to even begin to figure that out, for your family.

Welcome here!

Agreed ... price point is extremely relative. I just know that with guitars there seems to be a price point at which you get significantly better quality, and then the law of diminishing marginal returns starts kicking in.

I'm enjoying looking around at the threads in here.

[hdiddy]

Dad, starter basses start at ~$1500 (we're talking like Fender Squire or Mexican Fender type quality). ~$2000 gets you generally a quality student instrument. $3500-7000 starts getting into the workhorse/journeyman instruments. $8000 I'd say is getting into the professional stuff. I think that's probably a good rough guage.

[mesmithnm]

Nick Lloyd in Cincinnati (http://www.nicklloydbasses.com/) has a great reputation as a luthier and businessman and also carries quality basses that are affordable for students. There are also a couple of other reputable doublebass shops in Cincinnati but the names escape me at the moment - I'm sure someone else will chime in here! There may well be good shops even closer to Toledo - maybe UncleToad can help here - that's right around his stomping ground.

Mark

[BassersDad]

Thanks for the info Mark

Originally Posted by mesmithnm

Nick Lloyd in Cincinnati (http://www.nicklloydbasses.com/) has a great reputation as a luthier and businessman and also carries quality basses that are affordable for students. There are also a couple of other reputable doublebass shops in Cincinnati but the names escape me at the moment - I'm sure someone else will chime in here! There may well be good shops even closer to Toledo - maybe UncleToad can help here - that's right around his stomping ground.

Mark

[BassersDad]

Thanks for the feedback/advice.

I'm thinking maybe in the $2000 to $2500 range, but I'll see after a good heart-to-heart with the boy.

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Dad, starter basses start at ~$1500 (we're talking like Fender Squire or Mexican Fender type quality). ~$2000 gets you generally a quality student instrument. $3500-7000 starts getting into the workhorse/journeyman instruments. $8000 I'd say is getting into the professional stuff. I think that's probably a good rough guage.

[hdiddy]

Oh just thought of one more thing.... if you do decide to buy and end up needing to sell... Basses tend to keep their values better. You'll lose a little bit of money but it's not like buying guitars. Buy a $2400 bass and you can prob sell it back for $2000-2200. Buy a $700 guitar and expect to lose 30% when selling it. Your bigger problem is prob finding a buyer in your area so you don't have to ship.

[mjt0229]

Hi,

I grew up and started playing bass in the Toledo area (Maumee). For my first bass, I lucked out when my school music teacher found a used Kay in a crappy rental shop. It needed some work, but was still less than $1000 and got me through high school, and I played it in the Toledo Youth Orchestra and Perrysburg Symphony.

Another place to start would be with one of the local string bass teachers (PM me and I can find you some names). Apart from that, I'd suggest a trip to Cincinnati where you can visit the Bass Cellar (where my first bow came from) and Nick Lloyd's shop (which didn't exist then).

My teacher in Toledo also recommended Steven Riley's shop, but we never made it up as far as Grand Rapids to pay him a visit.

I would probably recommend against Shar.

Good luck!
Mark

[ArenW]

Originally Posted by BassersDad

I've played guitar for about 40 years ... electric, acoustic, fingerstyle, etc.

Let me start off by offering my deepest apologies

I know a teacher in the Fort Wayne area that always has a few basses for sale. P.M. me if you are interested.

[guitfiddle0409]

I switched to bass a long time ago. I do still enjoy playing fingerstyle acoustic guitar in odd tunings but bass is my main gig. I often do favor a Fender Bass VI as concession to my guitar playing days but one of these days I will either get good at imitating or actually playing an upright. Problem is the outrageous expense for a decent one.

[Jsn]

Originally Posted by guitfiddle0409

I switched to bass a long time ago. I do still enjoy playing fingerstyle acoustic guitar in odd tunings but bass is my main gig.

I play and compose fingerstyle guitar as well, and have acquired a few nice custom instruments of the wee six-string variety. But for some reason I've never been interested in playing guitar with others, or in public at all. It's just a relaxing private pursuit.

The bass, on the other hand, is inherently a social instrument, and that's one of the things that's drawn me to it. You not only make music, you help others make their music take on a whole new dimension.

Maybe in a few months you'll be enjoying playing music with your son. Best of luck.

[BassersDad]

Yep. I've looked around at some used basses and it did look like they tend to hold their value better than most guitars.

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Oh just thought of one more thing.... if you do decide to buy and end up needing to sell... Basses tend to keep their values better. You'll lose a little bit of money but it's not like buying guitars. Buy a $2400 bass and you can prob sell it back for $2000-2200. Buy a $700 guitar and expect to lose 30% when selling it. Your bigger problem is prob finding a buyer in your area so you don't have to ship.

[BassersDad]

LOL

Yeah ... a stranger in a strange land here.

I'll PM you about that Ft. Wayne person.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by ArenW

Let me start off by offering my deepest apologies

I know a teacher in the Fort Wayne area that always has a few basses for sale. P.M. me if you are interested.

[MikeBass]

Try contacting Wilsons Fine Violins in Birmingham (Mi that is! ).
It's a bit of a drive from A2, but they usually have a few nice pieces or know of guys in our area that are selling.

here:
http://www.wilsonfineviolins.com/

Also, contact TB'r kerrycares. He's a fine player and connected in the local area pretty well. He also may be able to point you in a direction to some one in our area.

[BassersDad]

My path was pretty much the opposite of yours. My first instruments were bass guitar and bass, but I switched over to guitar cause I wanted to be able to make music by myself.

Originally Posted by Jsn

I play and compose fingerstyle guitar as well, and have acquired a few nice custom instruments of the wee six-string variety. But for some reason I've never been interested in playing guitar with others, or in public at all. It's just a relaxing private pursuit.

The bass, on the other hand, is inherently a social instrument, and that's one of the things that's drawn me to it. You not only make music, you help others make their music take on a whole new dimension.

Maybe in a few months you'll be enjoying playing music with your son. Best of luck.

[BassersDad]

Hey, thanks! I'll check them out.

Originally Posted by MikeBass

Try contacting Wilsons Fine Violins in Birmingham.
It's a bit of a drive from A2, but they usually have a few nice pieces or know of guys in our area that are selling.

[MikeBass]

Originally Posted by BassersDad

Hey, thanks! I'll check them out.

I updated my post with some more info....